CALHOUN MEN CHARGED IN BRUTAL BASEBALL BAT ATTACK

(09/03/2014)

(L-R) Richard Charles Sampson, Jonathan Scott Sampson

Two Calhoun men are in Central Regional Jail charged with malicious assault, wounding, and battery of a Barnes Run (Mt. Zion) resident Danny Slider, in his early 20s.

Richard Charles (Bub) Sampson, 51, and Jonathan Scott Sampson, 26, are charged with brutally beating Slider with a baseball bat Monday, State Police saying the incident was related to a dispute over a female.

Police said Slider received trauma to the head with black eyes.

The criminal complaint says, Jonathan Sampson drove by a residence on Rowels Run where Slider was located, "cussing him out the window, appearing to be intoxicated," and at one point, Sampson's father engaged Slider "about dating his son's former girlfriend (Melissa Wengler) and attempted to make friends with Danny (Slider)."

The complaint says later the Sampson's returned to the Michael Godfrey residence on Rowels Run and got out of the car with a ball bat, proceeding toward Slider "yelling and cussing at him."

"Richard (Sampson) grabbed him (Slider) in a choke hold and (Jonathan) proceeded to beat Danny (Slider) with a baseball bat," after which they left the scene.

Trooper B. K. Shingleton said he retrieved the bat used in the assault.

Both men are being held on $50,000 bond each.

The men, if convicted, face confinement in the penitentiary of not less than two or more than ten years, felony charges.

Police responded to other domestic disputes Sunday night, including two in the Big Bend area, with one female victim likely taken to the hospital.